Captain Tsubasa a Symbol for Goodwill in Iraq

ANS points out an article from Japan Now about how images of Captain Tsubasa are being used to keep water-delivering trucks from being attacked in Iraq. According to the article, Captain Tsubasa is very popular in Iraq, especially among the children.

According to Yasuyuki Ebata, First Secretary in the Science section of the Embassy of Japan, "Captain Tsubasa is famous throughout Iraq and the Middle East. The Iraqi people didn't know he was Japanese--they thought Tsubasa was Saudi Arabian, [...] But I was sure that Tsubasa would cheer up Iraqi kids when they see his logo in the streets."